Usefulness of Doppler Ultrasound Carried Out by the Vascular Surgeon After Loco-regional Anesthesia for Preferred Access

Preoperative vascular mapping with echo-Doppler is acknowledged as indispensable to create an arteriovenous fistula for haemodialysis (AVF). The conditions for performing this examination are not always ideal (venous vasospasm in cool temperatures, variability of the volume status in the dialysis patient).

On the other hand, the use of a loco-regional anaesthesia (LRA) results in the vasodilation of the limb thus rendering it possible to use the veins which were initially considered too small.

The aim of this study is to assess the functionality of our AVF when ultrasound identification was used by the surgeon after the LRA. These results have been compared with those of the preceding year during which this identification was not implemented.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Arterio-venous Fistula
• Intervention / Treatment: Diagnostic test: Duplex ultrasound performed by the surgeon after locoregional anesthesia

Detailed Description

The investigators conducted a prospective study in the year 2020 during which all the patients (n=90) had an AVF creation with preoperative venous identification by the surgeon at university hospital of TOULOUSE (France)(echo group).

All the patients gave their consent, and the database was anonymised upon completion.

All patients were seen in a preoperative consultation with venous mapping carried out by a physician specialised in the use of Doppler ultrasonography. Following this consultation, a type of fistula was programmed in accordance with the Silva criteria (notably a vein with a diameter of over 2.5mm and an artery of 2mm). On the day of the operation, loco-regional anaesthesia was performed under sonographic guidance according to the previous description . The decision of the block approach and the choice of local aesthetic agent was left to the discretion of the anaesthesiologist.

The surgeon carried out an ultrasound and modification of the type of AVF was then made if the Silva criteria differed from those described during initial consultation. The modification could be a more distal creation, a more proximal creation, a change of vein or a change of artery.

The investigators succeeded to create more distal AVF when the vein had a diameter of over 2.5mm after LRA. Furthermore, the investigators reassembled the AVF when the vein appeared too small or residual (for example, following the attachment of an infusion having occurred between mapping and the surgery).

The same team of 4 surgeons participated in the creation of the AVF for both the echo group and the control group.

All patients were given a preoperative assessment of their heart function and cardiovascular risk factors (HTA, diabetes, smoking, dyslipidaemia). Prior strokes and coronary diseases were also registered as well as the patients' BMI and American society of anesthesiology score.

The definition of the good development of the haemodialysis access is based on the National Kidney Foundation's criteria: Blood flow>600ml, diameter over 6mm and lower depth of 6mm. On the other hand, permeability was based on the criteria of the Society for Vascular Surgery : primary permeability lasts from the creation to the first dilation episode or transposition of anastomosis required to maintain the access. Assisted primary permeability ends at the time of the first occlusion episode. Secondary permeability ends with the abandonment or the definitive withdrawal of the AVF due to failure.

The first postoperative consultation took place at around the 6th week after the creation which is the normal time necessary for the smooth development of an AVF .

The investigators compared all these results with our control group which consists of all the patients who had a native AVF placed during the year 2019 without having received immediate preoperative ultrasound and therefore there was no alteration in the surgical project in relation to that planned at the time of the consultation. Demographic data was similarly compiled and all the evaluation criteria compared

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Actual): 193

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• France
  • Toulouse, France, 31059
    • aurelien Hostalrich

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years and older (ADULT, OLDER_ADULT)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

All the patients who had an AVF creation with preoperative venous identification by the surgeon at CHU de TOULOUSE during the year 2020.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Native AVF access
• During the year 2020
• Preoperative mapping during the consultation
• Loco-regional anesthesia

Exclusion Criteria:

• Redo surgery

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
Echo group; All the patients (n=90) who had an AVF creation with preoperative venous identification by the surgeon at CHU de TOULOUSE (echo group).	Diagnostic test: Duplex ultrasound performed by the surgeon after locoregional anesthesia; Just after locoregional anesthesia, the surgeon perform a duplex ultrasound to determinate if the target vessel chosen to create the arterio-venous fistulae match with the pre-operative duplex performed during the consultation. So the plan can be changed such as more distal, more proximal creation, changing vein or artery target.
Control; All the patients (n=93) who had a native AVF placed during the year 2019 without having received immediate preoperative ultrasound and therefore there was no alteration in the surgical project in relation to that planned at the time of the consultation

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Functionality of the AVF at the time of the postoperative	An AVF is defined as functional if all the criteria of the good development of the haemodialysis access (based on the National Kidney Foundation's criteria) are present : Blood flow>600ml, diameter over 6mm and lower depth of 6mm	6 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
The rate of planning change between the surgical project at the time of the consultation and the AVF that is finally placed		During the surgery
Primary, assisted primary and secondary permeability of our accesses	permeability was based on the criteria of the Society for Vascular Surgery : primary permeability lasts from the creation to the first dilation episode or transposition of anastomosis required to maintain the access. Assisted primary permeability ends at the time of the first occlusion episode. Secondary permeability ends with the abandonment or the definitive withdrawal of the AVF due to failure	12 months

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University Paul Sabatier of Toulouse

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Hostalrich A, Boisroux T, Segal J, Lebas B, Ricco JB, Chaufour X. Assessment of Duplex Ultrasound Carried Out by the Vascular Surgeon After Locoregional Anesthesia for Preferred Arteriovenous Fistula Access. Ann Vasc Surg. 2022 Jul;83:117-123. doi: 10.1016/j.avsg.2021.11.014. Epub 2021 Dec 20.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (ACTUAL): January 1, 2020
• Primary Completion (ACTUAL): February 1, 2021
• Study Completion (ACTUAL): July 1, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 9, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 15, 2021
• First Posted (ACTUAL): July 27, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (ACTUAL): July 27, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 15, 2021
• Last Verified: July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Arterio-veinous fistula access; preoperative Doppler ultrasound; maturation access
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Cardiovascular Diseases; Vascular Diseases; Congenital Abnormalities; Pathological Conditions, Anatomical; Cardiovascular Abnormalities; Vascular Malformations; Arteriovenous Malformations; Vascular Fistula; Fistula; Arteriovenous Fistula; Physiological Effects of Drugs; Central Nervous System Depressants; Anesthetics
• Other Study ID Numbers: ECHO FAV

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No